Page 90 of Claws and Feathers

Stay strong. Be brave. Never lose your fighting spirit, your sense of humor, or your beautiful heart. You are special, Abigail. You are a bright light in a dark world.

And always remember this: life is not black and white. It is gray.

We are all gray.

Love Always,

Nana Cecily

“I thought I’d find you here.”

Abby walked along the dock, spotting Cooper sitting at the edge with his feet in the water. A late summer breeze swept through her hair, tangling it into knots, much like the feeling in the pit of her stomach. Her bare feet slapped against the wood planks as he turned around to watch her approach.

“It’s a pretty sunset,” Cooper said, gazing out across the water. The surface rippled with brilliant orange and yellow light. He glanced back at her. “Sit with me?”

Abby smiled and continued her trek to the end of the pier. She smoothed her dress down along her backside and took a seat, carefully situating herself beside him. Her chest wound ached, but she ignored it. Her heart ached more.

They sat in a comfortable silence while the sun set lower in the sky. Abby wasn’t sure how much time had passed by when he finally looked in her direction, leaning into her with a sigh.

“I’ve missed you,” he said softly.

Abby closed her eyes, breathing in his words, his scent, and his very essence. Her toes danced along the water, her thoughts scattered. A week had gone by since she’d been released from the hospital. Abby had decided to stay with Daphne while she recovered since her beautiful home was a crime scene now. A house of horrors. Cooper had been hurt when she’d turned down his offer to stay with him. It wasn’t because she didn’t want to –oh, she wanted to. All she could think about was kissing him goodnight and waking up beside him every morning.

But she couldn’t.

It was too much. There was so much damage and unspeakable aftermath that she refused to sweep under the rug.

Abigail Stone was not a killer, but she had killed. She had been responsible for the loss of six innocent lives. Her parents. James Walker. Christopher Larkin, his wife, Samantha, and…

“He had a son, you know.” Abby spoke the words before she’d thought them through. “Chad. His son’s name was Chad Larkin.”

Cooper regarded her with troubled eyes. “I know.”

“He was only seven years old at the time of the accident. He had his whole life ahead of him.”

“Abby, you can’t think about that…”

She faced him, her head jerking sharply. “Ihaveto think about that,” she told him. Her tone was firm; unyielding. “He deserves to be acknowledged. Remembered. They all do.”

“It was an accident,” Cooper insisted.

Abby looked back out at the water, envious of its tranquility. It had so much going on beneath its surface, and yet, it managed to remain so peaceful. “It still happened.” She tipped her chin to her chest, twisting the hem of her dress between her fingers. “He died in May,” Abby whispered. “Larkin’s son… he died from his injuries sustained in the accident. That was the trigger.”

Cooper ran both hands through his hair, then leaned back on his palms. Abby could see his jaw tensing as he stared straight ahead. “I know,” he repeated. “I looked into it. I researched everything I could on Larkin and his family.”

Abby nodded. She figured he’d already know. “It makes sense,” she told him. “It makes sense why he went after me.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Cooper sat back up, twisting his body towards her. “Abby, he was a sick man. His actions were inexcusable.”

“He was adevastatedman,” she corrected, her tone becoming heated. “He lost everything. I tookeverythingfrom him. A broken heart is a powerful thing.”

“You’re an innocent victim in all of this, too. Don’t do this to yourself.” Cooper reached over, cradling her face between his hands and forcing her eyes on his. “I almost lost you twice. I refuse to lose you now.”

Abby melted into his touch, her emotions rising up through her chest and bursting in the back of her throat. She let out a small cry, a whimper, and pulled away. She stood to her feet, unable to face him. Unable to say what she needed to say.

“Abby…” Cooper called out, following her to the middle of the dock.

She whipped around, the wound in her chest screaming in resistance. She was supposed to ‘take it easy’ while her body healed from its trauma. Abby found amusement in the doctor’s order.Take it easy.

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